Shannon Artis KENNEDY Holland Leroy KENNEDY Marvin C KENNEDY Martha Lois KENNEDY Helen HENDERSON Clarence Donal KENNEDY Eugene Shannon KENNEDY Mildred I KENNEDY Ruth E KENNEDY Martha Ellen MEINERS Mini tree diagram

Irvin Virgil KENNEDY5,1,2,3,4

19th Jul 19141,2,3,4 - 15th Mar 19951

Life History

19th Jul 1914

Born in Arkansas City, Arkansas, Arkansas.1,2,3,4

23rd Jan 1937

Married Helen HENDERSON in Arkansas County, Arkansas.9,10

2nd Feb 1947

Birth of daughter Martha Lois KENNEDY in DeWitt, Arkansas, Arkansas.6,7,8

15th Mar 1995

Died in Almyra, Arkansas, Arkansas.1

Notes

  • Irvin's grandson Russell Irvin McSwain gave me Irvin's name, and I found vital statistics in public sources.

    The Social Security Death Index provides his birth and death dates and last residence at time of death.

    Irvin V. Kennedy, Born 19 Jul 1914, Died 15 Mar 1995, SSN 430-70-3111 issued Arkansas 1955, Last Residence Almyra, Arkansas, Arkansas 72003

    I found entries in the 1920 and 1930 censuses for Irvin while at home with his parents.  We also find information on his maternal ancestors in these entries.  In 1920, living with the Kennedys is Irvin's grandmother, widow Martha Meiners.  We learn from Martha Kennedy's entry that her mother's German last name is from her immigrant father who was born in Germany.  Martha Sr's parents are from England, but she was born in Missouri.  Martha Meiners Kennedy was born in Illinois.

    1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 28 June, Garland Township, District 9, page 1A-B, DeWitt Rd, Hse/Fam #12
    Kennedy, Shannon Head Rents  M W 29 AR AR AR Farmer [b abt 1891]
    Kennedy, Martha  Wife F W 25 IL Germany MO [b abt 1895]
    Kennedy, Holland Son M W 8 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Marvin Son M W 7 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Irvin Son M W 5 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Clarence Son M W 4 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Eugene Son M W 2 AR AR IL
    Meiners, Martha Mother-in-law F W 59 Widow MO Eng Eng [b abt 1860]

    In the 1930 census, we get middle initials.  From the age of Shannon in 1920 and 1930, it appears his birthday is before April 15, 1890.  Likewise his son Holland.  Shannon was renting his farm in 1920, but now owns it.

    1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Garland Township, District 7, page 1A, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #7
    Kennedy, Shannon A Head Owns  M W 40  First married at age 21  AR AR AR Farmer [b bet Jan and Apr 1890]
    Kennedy, Martha E Wife F W 35 First married at age 17  IL Germany MO [b abt 1895]
    Kennedy, Holland H Son M W 19 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Marvin C Son M W 17 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Irvin V Son M W 15 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Clarence D Son M W 14 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Eugene S daughter [sic]  M W 12 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Mildred I daughter F W 9 AR AR IL
    Kennedy, Ruth E daughter F W 7 AR AR IL

    The enumerator for some reason listed Eugene S as a daughter, and the gender as Female, while in 1920 we see the report says Son and Male, as the name would indicate.

    Martha E's mother was living in her daughter's household in 1920, but now lives about 5 houses away in her own household on a farm she owns.  This might indicate that at the time of the 1920 census, her husband had only recently passed away.  Martha Meiners' son George and his wife Effie live with her.  Her surname is now Anglicized in the spelling Minors.

    1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Garland Township, District 7, page 1A, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #2
    Minors, Martha Head Owns F W 69 Widow MO Eng Eng [b abt 1860]
    Minors, George Son Rents M W 37 First married at age 30  IL Germany MO [b abt 1903]
    Minors, Effie daughter-in-law F W 36 First married at age 29  AR AR AR [b abt 1904]
    (no children)

    Another of Martha Meiners' sons, William V, is living next door to her, enumerated in Hse # 1 for Garland township, and the first entry on this page.

    1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 25 April, Garland Township, District 7, page 1A, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #1
    Minors, William V Head Rents M W 39 First married at age 36  IL Germany MO [b abt 1801]
    Minors, Mable Wife F W 32 First married at age 27  IL Nebraska IL [b abt 1803]
    Minors, Gerald F M W 2yrs 5mos AR IL IL [b abt Oct 1927]

    In both 1920 and 1930 there is another Kennedy household living two houses down from Shannon and his family that may be part of this family also.  The head of the household is June C Kennedy (male), born in Arkansas, but his parents both born in Kentucky.  June's wife Lizzie is 38 and she and both her parents were born in Arkansas.  So it appears that they married in Arkansas like Shannon and Martha see to have.

    At age 57 in 1930 June is younger than Martha Meiners, but older than her children, between the generations.  He might be a cousin or nephew of Martha's husband.  But it might be just a coincidence that these two Kennedy family live so close together.

    In both censuses 1920 and 1930, we find another Kennedy household that more definitely appear to be related.  This is Frank J Kennedy, age 49, he and both parents born in Arkansas.  His mother lives with him, Nancy I, age 74 in 1930, born in Arkansas and father born in Alabama, mother born in Mississippi.  Frank's age and birth information indicate he could be an older brother of Shannon, and Nancy could be their widowed mother.

    In 1920 Frank and his mother live four houses from June (J C) and next door to Richard Hargrove's family.  In 1930 Richard Hargrove is still next door to him, in the direction away from June C Kennedy, but now there are only two houses between them, and Arch Hargrove is one of them.  Arch appears to be the brother of Richard.  Another Hargrove who also appears to be a brother lives next door to Richard.

    Since the Road name has changed, but so many families still live in approximately the same relationship, it appears the name of DeWitt Rd was changed to Hagler Rd.

    1920 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 28 June, Garland Township, District 9, page 1A, DeWitt Rd, Hse/Fam #4
    Kennedy, Frank Head Owns M W 38 Single AR AR AR Farmer [b abt 1882]
    Kennedy, Isabelle Mother F W 64  Widow AR AR MS[b abt 1856]

    1930 Federal Census, Arkansas County, Arkansas, 28 June, Garland Township, District 9, page 1A-B, Hagler Rd, Hse/Fam #12
    Kennedy, Frank Head Owns M W 38 Single AR AR AR Farmer [b abt 1882]
    Kennedy, Isabelle Mother F W 64  Widow AR AR MS[b abt 1856]

    As we saw initially Irvin Virgil Kennedy died, just as his father did, in the same community where he had lived and farmed all his life, Almyra, Arkansas County, Arkansas.

Sources

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